Candidate: W. A. "Butch" Hansen

W. A. “Butch” Hansen graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a BS in Ocean Engineering, and from the Naval War College with a MA in Strategic Planning. He retired as a Captain and Submariner following a highly successful 30-year career, having commanded Submarine Squadron 20, the Ballistic Missile submarine Squadron on the East coast, and the fast attack submarine USS BERGALL (SSN667).  In his follow-on duties in the Pentagon, he served on the Navy staff leading the Assessments Branch, responsible for the analysis of needed capabilities and recommendations for future budget decisions. He was then chosen to represent the Navy on a select Defense Capability Review and became a principal author of the 2004 Secretary of Defense Joint Defense Capability Study. During his Navy career, he also attained sub-specialty certifications in nuclear propulsion engineering, personnel management and training, and financial management.

After retiring from the Navy, Butch took his strategic planning and resource management skills to LMI, a not-for-profit strategic consulting firm where he served as the Director for Financial, Acquisition, and Resource Management services. In this position he directed myriad complex and ground-breaking efforts for the DOD and several other government departments and agencies focusing on strategic planning and cost-effective resource allocation, to improve the management and function of the federal government. He authored several studies including the impactful Transforming the Way DoD looks at Energy: An Approach to Establishing an Energy Strategy. He continues to work as a consultant for the federal government as a Senior Fellow with LMI, dedicated to improving the stewardship of the taxpayers’ money.

After moving to Pensacola in 2011, he became the President of the Pensacola Chapter of the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association. In 2013 he was appointed by the Mayor to a steering committee tasked with developing and recommending options for the future management of the Veterans Memorial Park. As a result, he helped to found the Veterans Memorial Park Foundation of Pensacola, Inc. a non-profit organization that serves under contract with the city to serve as the stewards, funders and future developers of the Park. Butch then served as the president of the foundation for 3 years.

In January 2018, Butch was offered and accepted a position as the Strategic Budget Planner for the Pensacola City Council with a view toward improving the City government effectiveness. In this position he provides information on financial policy and program budgets to City Councilmembers in an effort to support more informed decision making. 

Butch is running for City Council to bring his experience, skill and tireless efforts to represent the residents and business owners of District 6. With your input, he is dedicated to planning the future course of the City, developing priorities to support those plans and to making informed financial decisions in order to implement them. His qualifications will enable him to do this.

Butch lives in North Hill with his wife Lee Hansen, also a retired Navy Captain and former commander of Training Air Wing 6 in Pensacola. They have 5 children and 15 grandchildren.